KAS Committee Round-Up

Churches Committee

The visit to two parish churches on the 1st November was preceded by the opportunity to investigate the remains of a Roman building within the ruined medieval church of Stone by Faversham, with the assistance of Clive Foreman.

Oare and Davington churches are both sited on raised ground overlooking creeks of the Swale Estuary. The relevance of the topography to the buildings and the history of the localities was brought out by each of the speakers, each as churchwarden having insight into details of the fabric, and enthusiasm for elucidating the past and existing structures.

Donald Cocksedge told of recent work at Oare concerning earlier renderings for subsidence, and the insubstantial foundations of the rectangular ragstone and flint church; Domesday Book referred to half a church at Oare.

At Davington, following a viewing of the western exterior, Lawrence Young outlined the history of the priory buildings and varied ownership since its founding in AD1135. In 1931 the Church of England purchased Davington Priory, formally establishing Davington Parish Church the following year. The priory house and grounds subsequently passed once more into private ownership. The church is virtually as 'restored' by Thomas Willement, owner in the 19th century, and represents the modified western half of the original church.

Deborah Goacher

Fieldwork Committee

The following three members were appointed to the committee: Michael Howard, Michael Eddy and Anthony Thomas.

A GPS meter (Geographical Positioning System) has been purchased for use on fieldwork projects. This meter locates items and features for calculating their grid reference. The committee also has a resistivity meter.

To obtain information about the geophysical equipment please contact:

Brian McNaughton
Eltons, Warehorne Road
Hamstreet, Ashford, Kent TN26 2J1.
Tel: 01233 732721

Writing up Past Excavations

Over the past four decades there has been a steady rise in the number of excavations that have not been written up. To help with the costs of bringing out a report on some of these sites, the Committee is making available small grants. It is envisaged that they will be in the range of £100 to £1000. For those who have an outstanding report to complete and wish to apply for a grant the following criteria apply to their application:

• Applicants must define the site they are writing up and the sum of money required.
• The write-up must be offered for publication in Archaeologia Cantiana.
• The closing date for applications is Saturday February 21 2004.
• In all grant decisions the Committee's view is final.

Applications to:
David Bacchus, Hon Sec. Fieldwork Committee
Telford Lodge, Roebuck Road,
Rochester, Kent ME1 1UD
Tel: 01634 831495

Place Names Committee

At the meeting held on Saturday 11 October Dr Paul Cullen agreed to run a Study Day on place-names at Staplehurst in July. He ran a powerpoint presentation on the Anglo-Saxon bounds of Godmersham parish to show the Committee how he could marry maps and documents, and we were all mesmerised. He could sell place-names to Eskimos. For those who like to travel, he is arranging a conference at Nottingham University on river names, called 'Adventure in Hydrology'.

Material for the Kent place-names volumes is accumulating at Nottingham, and the on-line Key to Kentish Place-Names will appear when the maps have been drawn.

Our next meeting will take place on Saturday 20 March.

Anita Thompson

Publications Committee

The Committee last met on Saturday 6 December 2003 and will next meet on Saturday 28 February. The Committee has a new Secretary, Dr J M Gibson, and I am deeply grateful to Miss E. Melling, the retiring Secretary, for all her hard work over many years. Full membership has been reduced to thirteen, four former members having opted for observer status, each being sent an Agenda with an open invitation to attend if there are any matters which interest them.

The bid for funds to re-establish the Victoria County History has been successful. The total project costs for Kent amount to £197,619, comprising Heritage Lottery Funding of £145,857 (74%) and matching funding of £51,762 (26%). Nationally 17 VCH studies will be produced in print and on-line with volunteer support. The HLF insists on the engagement of volunteers. For Kent a two year module, People and Work in the Lower Medway Valley, c.1750 1900 should commence during 2004. Volunteers will use maps and records to explore agricultural and industrial change within a group of parishes in the Lower Medway Valley close to Rochester, within the hinterland of an ancient and important ecclesiastical centre, market town and river port. The volunteers will receive training, acquiring new skills, working with and under the supervision of a professional historian as County Editor. £70,651 being allocated for staff costs.

John Whyman (Chair)